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Wednesday, 22 July 2026
Politics

UK Defence Secretary Streeting Apologises After Mic Picks Up Prison Remarks

Ministers caught on microphone making comments about early prisoner release draw apology and criticism.

Talivio News · Global 1 min read
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Pedestrians and a statue outside a historic building in London. Polina Chistyakova

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood have apologised after being caught on microphone making comments about early prisoner release. The incident has drawn criticism from victims of crime, who accused the ministers of making 'cheap jokes' about the scheme.

The apology follows reports that Streeting and Mahmood were recorded discussing the early prisoner release programme. According to sources, Streeting referred to the new UK Justice Secretary, Alex Norris, as 'the enemy now', to which Mahmood responded 'no he’s not'.

new UK Justice Secretary

Alex Norris has become the new UK Justice Secretary.

the enemy now
— Wes Streeting, referring to Alex Norris

Victims of crime have accused the ministers of making 'cheap jokes' about the early prisoner release scheme, according to reports.

Rowan Ashcombe

Politics Correspondent · Talivio News

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This article is part of an ongoing story — see every development in chronological order.

Sources

  1. BBC — Streeting apologises after early prisoner release comments heard on mic (opens in a new window)
  2. The Guardian — Streeting and Mahmood accused of making ‘cheap jokes’ about prisoner early release scheme (opens in a new window)
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